Wind Watch: Industrial Wind Energy News

These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch.

OKLAHOMA CITY — A bill that would reduce the amount of tax subsidies paid to wind producers in Oklahoma has been unanimously approved by the House of Representatives. The House voted 89-0 on Monday for the bill by Bartlesville Republican Rep. Earl Sears. It now heads to the full Senate for consideration. Sears said the bill in its current form would reduce by about 70 percent the amount of tax credits wind producers receive, although he acknowledged discussions with the . . .

A Stormont committee has called for an urgent review of limits on noise levels from wind turbines. Many emotive submissions detailed the allegedly adverse impact of the renewable energy technology on day-to-day lives, a report from the environment committee said. Residents’ concerns about the health impact or effect on house prices were often not given due regard, while community groups trying to object to planning applications found the process opaque, according to a review by lawmakers. The wind industry believes . . .

An energy company denied planning permission for two 100m high wind turbines at a farm in Shipdham, near Dereham, because of danger to low flying aircraft has failed in a High Court challenge to the decision. Ecotricity (Next Generation) Ltd had branded the refusal of consent as “irrational”. It claimed in its High Court challenge that the country’s planning supremo, communities secretary Eric Pickles, and one of his inspectors were wrong in their view that the planned turbines would cause . . .

MANVERS TWP – The legal team for opponents of a controversial wind energy project approved for Manvers Township are going over the recent dismissal of their appeal by the Environmental Review Tribunal with “a fine-toothed comb,” says the local City councillor. Ward 16 Coun. Heather Stauble could not estimate the cost to mount the legal challenge to wpd Canada’s Sumac Ridge project, which has provincial approval to install five mega-wind turbines near Pontypool; two of them on the Oak Ridges . . .

A wide-ranging re-examination of the Province’s approach to wind farms has been called for by Stormont politicians. A report from a group of MLAs said the Department of the Environment to say when enough is enough when it comes to the siting of wind farms in an area. It found that west Tyrone had already reached “saturation point” in terms of the number of turbines spread across the landscape, and called for a clear definition of exactly what the limit . . .

BUTLER CO. – A wind energy developer has its eye on land owners in east Butler County. This became the primary topic at this week’s Butler Board of Superior’s meeting. An organization called, “NextEra Energy” is hoping to lease land and establish roughly 100 to 112 wind turbines throughout a portion of the county. NextEra would install the turbines in a portion of the county, lease land from existing land owners, and find a large commercial customer to purchase the . . .

Iberdrola confirmed it is investigating a turbine fall in February affecting a Gamesa G47-660kW wind turbine at the 16-year old 19.8MW El Tablado wind plant in Zaragoza and Soria, one of Spain’s windiest provinces. Gamesa declined to comment on specifics saying accountability falls entirely on utility Iberdrola, which is both the owner and provider of operation and maintenance (O&M) at El Tablado. An Iberdrola spokesman told Windpower Monthly that the plant was exposed to gales of over 200 km/hour, far . . .

Rare swans have been fitted with their own SAT-NAVS in a bid to stop them smashing into wind turbines. Offshore wind farms are feared to kills thousands of birds and fowl every year – but experts have come up with the new technology to try to avoid further deaths. The Bewick’s swans, currently residing at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) centre at Welney, Norfolk, are set to make an epic 2,500 mile journey to Arctic Russia. The birds will . . .

Bord na Móna directors will meet in the coming months to plan a “major rethink” in its strategy, as the State peat company looks to reinvent itself as a significant producer of renewable energy through wind and solar farms. The company officially launched a €115 million wind farm at a bog in Mount Lucas, Co Offaly, its largest investment to date. Bord na Móna, which has landholdings equivalent in size to Co Louth, plans to deliver “a new wind farm . . .

Plans for a 100m wind turbine close to two major wind farms and the A1 look set to be thrown out, after widespread opposition both human and canine. Proposals have been submitted to Northumberland County Council for a generator with a maximum tip height of 100m, on behalf of a farmer near Alnwick. The site is a short distance from 18 turbines at Middlemoor and ten at Wandylaw, all 125m high, and is close to the A1. A total of . . .